Open Call: Oncology Centre Artist in Residence (Malta)

The Valletta 2018 Foundation is always striving to include creatives from all fields as part of its projects. Together with Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre (SAMOC), the Foundation is inviting artists to apply for an immersive Artist-in-Residence experience. This will be linked with the Deep Shelter Project based at the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre (SAMOC) in San Gwann. The residency will take place at the centre between January 2018 and February 2018 and will run for 6 weeks. It will include travel, accommodation and a per diem.

The successful artist will create a site-specific work for the Oncology Centre and will work closely with project coordinator and artist in residence Pamela Baldacchino, as well as Dr Benna Chase, Principal Psychologist at SAMOC.

The available space will be the central waiting area at the Radiotherapy Department which is also visually accessible through the Day ward providing this space with multiple viewpoints and extensive exposure to day visitors. The artist must liaise with the project coordinator and will be given an understanding of artistic research being presently carried out in the Oncology Centre.

Deep Shelter Project is an ongoing artistic process that started off with the creation of audio-visual work that serves as an empathic trigger. The work is based on the illness/trauma experience using nature as metaphor http://deepshelter.com/. This led to a 3 year artist residency in Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre (SAMOC), Mater Dei Hospital, Malta for artist Pamela Baldacchino. Here she is researching the value of Deep Shelter together with Dr. Benna Chase, Principal Pyschologist at SAMOC.

The project consists of collaboration with staff so as to help create a ‘holding’ environment through art donations and artist workshops for site-relevant work and a workshop series that allows the patient to experience connection through the senses.